…As NSC ES/CEO, Akutah Gives Account of Stewardship, Achievements In Office In 1 Year
. MWUN President, Adeyanju Describes Akutah as Innovator, Digital Chief Executive
Shola Fadeyi
Strong indications have emerged that the National Assembly will soon pass into law the Nigerian Shipping and Ports Regulatory Agency Bill that will give legal teeth to the Shippers’ Council role as the Seaports economic regulator and empower it to efficiently supervise the activities of the Seaports sector and make it contribute more to economic development.
The Bill, has already been passed by the House of Representative , sequel to the Public hearing that was organized by the House for relevant stakeholders to add their inputs to it , while the Senate , which has been working on the Bill , from all indications will also soon pass it for concurrency , before President Bola Tinubu will give his accent.
The Executive Secretary/ CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Barrister Pius Ukeyima Akutah gave this assurance , when he celebrated and gave an account of his management stewardship in the last one year.
Barrister Akutah was appointed as the ES/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council by President Tinubu on November 3, 2024 , while he has since then adopted various measures to ensure that the Council live up to expectations as the economic regulator within the power at the disposal of the Council.
Akutah said when the Bill becomes an Act , it will make the Nigerian Shippers Council to transmute into the Nigeran Shipping and Ports Regulatory Agency , which will be able to enforce its powers as an economic regulator , sanction erring stakeholders in the seaport sector , check all forms of arbitrariness, and illegal increase in charges by shipping companies and terminal operators and as such be in position to facilitate trade better.
The Shippers Council ES/ CEO said the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy , Adegboyega Oyetolaq has also been keenly interested in the passage of the Bill , adding that , when passed into law the new Act will enhance the productivity of the Shippers Council , reposition yhe seaports and assist it to improve on the performance of the maritime sector and the economy.
According to Akutah, the importance of the successful review of the Shippers Council Act will also make it possible for the Agency to harmonise the Nigerian trade laws with those of other countries in Africa, review border engagements and capture trade volumes.for the benefit of the Nigeran economy and be in a better position to monitor minimum standard for shipping companies among others.
Akutah also spoke about the achievements of the Shippers Council in the area of provision of infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of Inland Dry Ports(IDPs) Vehicle Transit Areas (VTAs) and Border Stations in strategic parts of the country.
The Executive Secretary also said the mediatory role and the in house resolutions of the Council have assisted to safe the Nigeria’s economy a lot of money iy would have lost.
Akutah lauded the personnel of the Shippers’ Council for their contributions to the success that has been recorded by the Council in the last one year, adding that the management woúd ensure it improves on its achievements for the benefit of the maritime sector and the economy.
He said for the fact that the Council would not have achieved without the input of the workers , his management would continue to prioritize the interest of the staff who are the engine room of the organisation by focusing more on their welfare.
Akutah pledged that the Council’s collaborations with stakeholders in the seaport sector particularly Nigerian Ports Authority ,other relevant government agencies, shipping companies and terminal operators will continue to focus on the Council’s agenda in the years ahead.
Dr Adewale Adeyanju , the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) , who was invited to the event commended the Shippers Council ES/CEO on his achievements in the last one year, while he described him ,as an innovator , transformer and a digital Chief executive because of his focus on information computer technology(ICT) initiatives at the Council in the last one year.
